Planting a tree or two in your North Carolina garden or landscape project is a great way to add height and interest to your space. Trees also improve air quality, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and can even help prevent erosion! Many species also produce beautiful and fragrant blooms that liven up any environment, not to mention the gorgeous fall displays that announce the arrival of cooler temperatures. Trees are awesome additions to your garden, and they come in all shapes and sizes to best suit your individual space.
If your garden is small or already full-to-bursting with plant life, it can be challenging to find space for a large tree! Luckily, there is a plethora of small species, both native and non-native, that flourish in North Carolina’s hardiness range (5b – 8b). The state’s climate, with its hot summers and frigid winters, is compatible with many varieties of trees – large and small – and other forms of plant life. Whether your garden gets full sun or dappled shade, there is a small tree for almost every environment.
Small trees, despite their size, pack a powerful punch! Their smaller horizontal spread and noninvasive roots enable them to fit in spaces where their larger cousins cannot, and they can act as gorgeous garden accent pieces that don’t completely overshadow the rest of your specimens. Many small trees have showy blossoms that not only brighten up your garden but also attract native pollinators. Fruits are enjoyed by wildlife, and some are edible to humans, as well! With a wide variety of growing conditions, shapes, and colors, you are sure to find a small tree that is right for you. The species below are just a few contenders for your small space in North Carolina.
1) Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
The eastern redbud, also known as the Judas tree, is a tree that will add year-round interest to your garden. It typically reaches a height of about 6 meters (20 feet) but can grow as tall as 9 meters (30 feet). A ramiflorous species, its small, rosy-colored blossoms bloom directly on its branches in March and April, the flowers persisting for 2 – 3 weeks. Its unique, heart-shaped leaves emerge with a reddish-purple hue in the spring, turn dark green in the summer, and develop a warm, golden yellow in the fall. In midsummer, the tree produces bean-like seed pods that may remain on the tree throughout winter, extending directly from the grey bark of its branches.
Eastern redbuds do well in full sun or partial shade. They are tolerant of nutrient-deficient soil as well as drought, but they do best in moist, well-draining soil. Under ideal conditions, this tree will grow 2 – 3 meters (7 – 10 feet) in 5 years. Its beauty and ease of care make the eastern redbud a popular choice for home gardens and other landscaping projects. In addition to its pleasant aesthetic qualities, it also has value to local wildlife. Bees enjoy the flowers, while the seeds are consumed by songbirds, squirrels, and deer.
2) Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
The state flower of North Carolina, the flowering dogwood is found growing naturally in thickets, along the banks of rivers and streams, and both within and on the edges of woodlands. Its long-lasting pink or white blooms, of great value to native bees, emerge in the late winter or early spring, giving your garden a much-needed pop of color early in the season when the rest of the world is still grey and dreary. The center of each blossom becomes a cluster of small, ovular red fruits that ripen in October and are enjoyed by birds and other wildlife. In the fall, the green foliage gives way to brilliant red, pairing beautifully with the grey, scaly bark.
While their trunks are relatively short, flowering dogwoods can grow to be 9 – 11 meters (30 – 36 feet) tall with a horizontal spread of about 25 – 30 feet. This species can grow in full sun, full shade, or anything in between, depending on the climate of your specific region. Dogwoods planted in the Piedmont or Coastal regions of North Carolina may do better with more shade. This tree grows best in soil that is slightly moist; too much water can kill the tree. Mature trees can tolerate periods of drought.
3) Rusty blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum)
The rusty blackhaw is a member of the honeysuckle family which can occur as a single-stemmed tree or a multi-stemmed shrub. It grows slowly, usually reaching a mere 5 meters (16 feet) in height and 3 – 6 meters (10 – 20 feet) in width. The rusty blackhaw gets its name from the short, rust-colored hairs covering the stems, buds, and undersides of its leaves. In the spring, the tree’s small white blooms emerge in clusters up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) wide. The flowers of this species provide food for native pollinators like butterflies and bees. In the fall, its small, dark blue drupes are enjoyed by birds. Its glossy, deep green foliage can take on a variety of hues in the fall, including red, orange, pink, or lavender.
The rusty blackhaw can be found growing in open woods, along streams and riverbanks, thickets, or in dry, rocky soil. It grows well in dry to moderately moist soil and is tolerant of drought once established. Its small size and ability to grow in full sun or partial shade make it a good candidate for an understory plant or an accent to your small garden.
4) American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
A low-maintenance species that thrives on neglect, the American hophornbeam is drought-tolerant and will grow in most kinds of soil. However, this tree does not like “wet feet” and is unlikely to survive flooding. Considered a small-to-medium understory tree, the American hophornbeam typically grows to heights of 8 – 9 meters (26 – 30 feet) with a horizontal spread of 5 – 9 meters(16 – 30 feet), although it is fairly slow-growing and takes at least 15 years to grow 5 meters (15 feet). It is tolerant of a wide variety of lighting conditions, from full shade to full sun.
While it lacks showy springtime blossoms, the American hophornbeam produces both male and female catkins, the male catkins persisting throughout the winter. The hop-like, papery capsules – for which this tree gets its name – contain nutlets that ripen in the fall and are eaten by wild birds and small mammals. While its fall colors are not the most extravagant, this species’ dark green, felt-like leaves turn gentle tones of yellow and red-orange. Once the leaves fall, the tree’s shaggy bark will add interest to your garden in the winter.
5) American plum (Prunus americana)
The American plum is grown for its ornamental value, although it does produce edible fruits. Its small, light purple or pink fruits are best enjoyed dried or in jam. The appeal of this species primarily comes from the clusters of showy white blossoms that appear in March or April and attract pollinators. Usually only reaching a height of 3 – 6 meters (10 – 20 feet) and a width of 2 – 3 meters (7 – 10 feet), the American plum is an excellent candidate for adding interest to small gardens – especially in the spring and fall. In the fall, this tree may turn gold or red.
In nature, the American plum is most often found growing in open woodlands and, occasionally, prairies. This tree is sometimes planted near streams due to its potential for erosion control. Given proper conditions, the American plum can grow rapidly. It prefers moist, well-draining soil and full or partial sun. It is hardy to zone 3 and has moderate drought tolerance. Without regular maintenance, it will form dense thickets with its thorn-like side branches. While these thickets provide year-round shelter for songbirds and other small wildlife, the effect is not always desirable.
6) Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
While not native to North Carolina, the Japanese maple is a popular choice for small garden spaces due to its small size and a wide variety of cultivars with gorgeous fall colors. This species grows up to 8 meters (26 feet) tall and turns deep red in the fall. Depending on the variety, Japanese maples can also be red or yellow in the spring. This tree’s appeal comes from its unique and diverse shades of foliage, but it also produces small, dangling, reddish flowers in the spring that give way to red schizocarps in the fall.
This slow-growing species grows best in moist, well-draining soil. Mature trees can tolerate drought, but younger trees need to be watered frequently. The Japanese maple’s preference for dappled shade makes it an excellent choice for an understory tree or for adding interest along a shaded walkway. While it self-seeds readily and can become weedy if not maintained, it has not been documented to take over native woodlands and is not considered invasive in North Carolina.
7) Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus)
A member of the olive family, the fringe tree gets its name from the drooping panicles of white, wispy flowers that adorn its branches in May and June. This species is dioecious, and male trees have showier flowers with longer petals. Female trees produce blue, plum-like fruits that are enjoyed by wildlife and mature in August and September. While the fruits are not toxic to humans, they are not particularly pleasant to eat. As the season progresses, the tree dons its fall colors of yellow or dull gold.
The fringe tree grows to heights of 4 – 6 meters (13 – 20 feet) and often attains a similar width. It is a slow-growing tree; it often takes at least 10 years to grow 3 meters (10 feet). It grows in full sun or partial shade. Full sun will provide the strongest blooms, while partial shade produces more luscious foliage. A versatile species, fringe trees are appealing when planted as single specimens, in groups, near buildings, or as a border. However, this tree is exceptionally sensitive to allelopathy and should not be planted near walnut or hickory trees.
8) Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)
Like its larger cousin, the southern magnolia, the sweetbay magnolia is an evergreen tree with glossy dark green leaves. In colder climates, it may only be semi-evergreen. Named for its sweet-smelling foliage, this magnolia also produces white, 7.6-centimeter (3-inch) flowers in May and June that emit a light lemony scent. It may also sprout occasional blossoms throughout the summer. The blooms are a favorite of butterflies, including eastern tiger and zebra swallowtails. In the late summer and early fall, the tree develops clusters of dark red fruits that are consumed by many native birds, including blue jays, northern flickers, tanagers, towhees, and turkeys.
This species typically gets only 6 – 9 meters (20 – 30 feet) tall and 3 – 6 meters (10 – 20 feet) wide. While it naturally grows with multiple trunks, strong pruning can be used to train it to grow as a single trunk. It grows in full sun or partial shade and likes moist soil – it can even tolerate wetter conditions. In nature, the sweetbay may be found growing along streams and swamps. These magnolias are versatile, and mature trees are drought tolerant. It is important to note that, like other magnolias, the sweetbay magnolia is a messy tree, dropping some of its leaves periodically throughout the year.
9) Early lilac (Syringa oblata)
The early lilac is another non-native, non-invasive tree that grows well in North Carolina. Its gorgeous dense panicles of fragrant pink or purple flowers make this tree a popular choice for gardens everywhere. With a hardiness range of 4a – 7b, this species grows best in the Mountain and Piedmont regions of the state. Like many other trees on this list, it grows best in moist, well-draining soil, and does well in full sun. It reaches a height of 2 – 3 meters (7 – 10 feet) with a similar horizontal spread. The early lilac blooms in April or May, a little bit earlier than other lilac species. Because it blooms so early, its delicate flowers are prone to frost damage, and appropriate precautions should be taken during the last frosts of the season.
Its showy blossoms attract pollinators of all kinds, including butterflies, bees, and birds. At the end of the blooming season, remove old flowers before they produce their copper-colored seedheads to increase the number of flowers the following year. In addition to its gorgeous springtime blooms, this tree also adds fall interest to your garden, turning purplish red in the fall. It is one of the only lilac species that develops appreciable fall colors.
10) Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
Witch hazel, found growing in its native habitat along the edges of woodlands and streambanks, is a small-to-medium tree, growing to a height of 4.5 – 9 meters (15 – 30 feet). It grows relatively quickly, adding 30 – 60 centimeters (12 – 24 inches) to its height every year. This tree prefers to have at least 4 hours of direct sunlight and tolerates a wide variety of conditions but prefers moist, well-draining soil.
Its dark green leaves turn orange or yellow in the fall. While many other trees bloom in the spring, witch hazel blooms in October or November after it loses its leaves, giving your garden a unique pop of color when the fall vibrance is fading. Each flower is frilly and bright yellow, consisting of 4 almost thread-like petals and emitting a pleasant spicy fragrance.
Witch hazel has quite an interesting method of reproduction. After being pollinated by owlet moths, gnats, or late-season bees, witch hazel trees develop small, tan-grey seedpods. The seedpods remain dormant throughout the winter, and the seeds within develop over the course of the next growing season. Finally, two small, shiny black seeds shoot out of the seedpods, covering a distance of 3 – 6 meters (10 – 20 feet)! The seeds take an entire year to germinate, so the time between pollination and germination is about 2 years!
